LAUDERDALE LAKES — Students at Park Lakes Elementary will soon have a better understanding of the environment thanks to a new initiative designed to promote environmental education and awareness.
The City of Lauderdale Lakes, in conjunction with Park Lakes Elementary School, Partners for the Environment, and the Community Family Center, will kick off the new environmental science program – a brainchild of Commissioner Hazelle Rogers – on Saturday, October 27 at 9:00 a.m. at Park Lakes Elementary School located at 3925 N. State Road 7 in Lauderdale Lakes.
The kickoff will take place just before a special ceremony dedicating the pedestrian bridge over the C-13 canal as the Barrington Irving Bridge to Educational Excellence.
This summer Irving made history by becoming the first and youngest person of African descent to make a solo flight around the world.
According to event organizers, Irving’s belief in education and support for the sciences makes this event the perfect catalyst to promote the new curriculum at Park Lakes.
“It’s the first program of its kind and I think the students will love it,” said Dr. Gwen Hankerson, the first chair of the city’s School Advisory Board, which helped name the school and envision the new science initiative. “It will give them a new lease on life and a new interest in their environment.”
According to school officials, the program will provide hands-on science education to elementary school students and expose them to the concept of non-point source pollution as a threat to our economy and inform them of ways to protect our water sources.
One of the first projects recently implemented involved a writing contest where students were asked to complete a one-page essay on the importance of a clean and safe environment.
“The winner of the contest will be called Mr. or Ms. Lauderdale Lakes Environmentalist of the Year,” said Tamala Vaughn, a science teacher at Park Lakes who has several students entering.
To help lead these efforts, experts from the Broward Soil & Water Conversation District have been involved to help expand the program.
“We have been teaching environmental education throughout Broward by setting up outdoor classrooms and gardens,” said Thaddeus Hamilton, chairperson of the organization. “We’ve been working with students to help them learn more about their environment and how to protect it.”
